[Council Communication]  [Attachments]

Council Communication

Title:	Amendment To Outdoor Burning Ordinance
Dept:	Ashland Fire & Rescue
Date:	January 6, 2004
Submitted By:	Keith E. Woodley, Fire Chief
Approved By: ...........................	Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator Paul Nolte, City Attorney

Synopsis:	Jackson County is amending their outdoor burning regulations to permit a two week burning period immediately following the termination of fire season. To facilitate coordination in burning permit issuance and regulation, and to reduce the potential for confusion within and between emergency 9-1-1 service areas, it is proposed that our outdoor burning ordinance also be amended. Additional amendments to the open burning ordinance are intended to reduce city council and staff time required by the annual review provision.
Recommendation:	Staff recommends that the Council accept this report, and adopt for first reading an amendment to the outdoor burning ordinance.
Fiscal Impact:	(not applicable)
Background:	This memo is provided as a report of residential burning activity for the calendar year 2003 in fulfillment of ordinance requirements. In some past years, the fall burning period has been cancelled county-wide due to lingering fire seasons and related dry, hazardous fire conditions. Jackson County plans to amend their county burning ordinance to allow outdoor burning permits to be issued for a two week period following the conclusion of fire season, if conditions are deemed safe for burning. It is important for the City of Ashland to establish and maintain outdoor burning regulations that work in harmony with those in place in Jackson County. This helps facilitate the coordination of permit issuance, enforcement activities and reduces the potential for conflict in identifying and dispatching real emergencies. A ten year summary of our burning activity is included with this report, which highlights the short burning period that has historically existed each fall due to fire seasons which typically extend into late October. A summary of our opening burning activity for the past ten years is depicted below: PERMITS ISSUED Period 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Spring 106 79 175 143 159 127 87 147 139 154 135 Fall 42 31 33 30 46 53 19 38 3 0 0 Total 148 110 208 173 205 180 106 185 142 154 135 The Spring burning period in 2003 occurred from March 1 through June 6. There were a total of 97 days within the burning period. There were 95 days at an index of 401 or above to allow burning. Due to the hot, dry conditions in October 2003 fire season was still in effect and outdoor burning was not permitted.
Attachments:	• Proposed Ordinance

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